Rain poured down outside while students flooded into the first floor of the University Center to stand in silence and hold posters with phrases like, “#ITSNOTOKAY,” “It’s more than just a word” and “You cannot say the N word.”
The protest Monday, from 10 to 11 a.m. was in response to an incident at Pi Phi Karaoke Night last Friday when a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon said “I’m just trying to chill with my (racial slur) in Paris” before performing, according to multiple sources who attended the event.
Several students expressed their opinions on social media about the student’s actions, and some posted the flyer for Monday’s silent protest.
Dale Claybrone, Jr., the president of the U of M chapter of NAACP, said he decided to protest to ensure incidents of this nature do not happen again.
“We’re not necessarily placing blame on anybody,” Claybrone said. “We just want some accountability for the individuals involved, and we want to make sure that this doesn’t happen on the University of Memphis campus again.”
The Memphis chapter of Sig Ep also issued a statement on Twitter.
“Sigma Phi Epsilon holds our members to high standards of behavior towards each other, our fellow students, and community,” the statement said. “When student members do not uphold those standards, we are prepared to hold them account.”
The statement also said the member has been suspended from the fraternity for his actions.
“The chapter is fully cooperating with the university administration in its investigation of the event,” the statement said. “Our members look forward to contributing to a diverse and inclusive community at the University of Memphis.”
Some members of multicultural organizations, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council also participated in the protest.
Former member of Sig Ep Tyre Baker said he decided to protest so he could educate others on the reasons racial slurs should not be said.
“I feel like a lot of people don’t understand why it’s wrong and why it shouldn’t be used by white people,” Baker said.
Darian Hayes, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., said he hopes the protest will help unify the community, start conversations and create justice.
“The fact that the student used that word shows how much work we have to do as a community and a university, and I think steps should be taken to punish that type of behavior,” Hayes said.”
Hayes also said he thinks the situation would have been handled differently if an NPHC member had used offensive language during a campus event.
“If a black organization went on stage and used profanity, I think we would have been fined much harsher,” Hayes said. “I feel like he just got a slap on the wrist, and people of the university need to know that that type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
Iasia Peoples, a philosophy major, said she hopes the university provides further education and discipline for people who use derogatory language.
“I hope that the university does not shy away from the issue and they take some sort of disciplinary action towards those who use racial slurs on our campus,” Peoples said.
Alexandria Loveless, a political science and African-American heritage major, said she hopes the university will enforce stricter rules and educate others on the historical context of the “N word.”
“I hope meetings will educate white people on the true meaning of the word and the difference when white people and black people say it,” Loveless said. “The word was created by white people to make black people feel inferior. If you didn’t experience the struggle of racism, you can’t use a word that was used to perpetuate racism.”
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
Some University of Memphis students participated in a silent protest 10-11 a.m. in the University Center. The protest was a response to a racial slur said by a Sigma Phi Epsilon member during Pi Beta Phi's Karaoke night last Friday.
